‘A lot to celebrate’ for United Autosports after ‘exceptionally strong season-opener’
United Autosports might have narrowly missed out on its maiden LMGT3 class triumph in the 2025 FIA WEC curtain-raiser in Qatar last week, but the team nonetheless left Lusail International Circuit confident in its chances of challenging for the title.
With its brace of distinctive, papaya-and-black-liveried McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evos, the British outfit entered the new season in bullish mood. Backing up that optimism, FIA Bronze-graded drivers Darren Leung (#95) and James Cottingham (#59) advanced comfortably through the first part of qualifying placed respectively first and third in the 18-strong field, with Silver-graded stablemates Sean Gelael (#95) and Sébastien Baud (#59) – the latter making his first appearance for United Autosports – subsequently setting the pace in the Hyperpole shootout.
The performance marked an unprecedented second consecutive front row lock-out after the team had done the same in last year’s Bahrain finale, and in the next day’s Qatar 1812km, the McLarens held sway at the head of the order during the early stages.
The two United Autosports cars largely stayed out-of-trouble as the race progressed, carefully managing their tyres, fuel and energy use. The #95 entry led for almost a third of the overall distance, but with little over an hour left on the clock, a drive-through penalty for a pit-stop infringement dashed Leung, Gelael and Marino Sato’s hopes of victory. They ultimately took the chequered flag a frustrated and unrepresentative seventh.
As a consolation, Gelael was voted ‘Driver of the Day’, taking a landslide win in the public vote and scooping the first Goodyear Wingfoot Award of 2025 for his consistency inside the cockpit.
With the #95 falling back following its penalty, the sister car picked up the mantle, as Grégoire Saucy determinedly hunted down Daniel Juncadella in the leading TF Sport Corvette during a thrilling final hour. Despite applying sustained pressure on the Spaniard, the Swiss star was unable to prise the door open, flashing across the finish line less than half-a-second in arrears.
The runner-up spoils nevertheless represented United Autosports’ finest finish to-date in FIA WEC’s LMGT3 category, which it is already aiming to build upon next time out at Imola (18-20 April).
“I said a number of times since arriving in Qatar that I felt like we could hit the ground running,” reflected Cottingham. “The efforts put in by the team over the winter have been translated into a well-deserved podium at long last for the #59 car, super-close to the race win. I couldn’t be happier.
“We had a teeny bit of bad luck with a gearbox malfunction, which cost us 40 seconds. Without that, undoubtedly we could have been on the top step, but we have seven more rounds and I am confident you will see McLaren on the podium at multiple points during the season – which is where the team should be!”
“I have to say, on a personal level, I’m disappointed, but huge thanks to the team and congratulations to the #59 – they did a brilliant job and the result is great motivation for everybody,” added Gelael [above]. “We are very happy with the progress shown, and hopefully we can continue this momentum at Imola, Spa and beyond. I’m looking forward to it!”
Those sentiments are echoed by United Autosports CEO Richard Dean and McLaren Automotive Director of Motorsport, Ian James, both of whom are positive that the squad’s form in Qatar can be reproduced on a regular basis.
“It was an exceptionally strong season-opener, and one that we are very proud of,” acknowledged Dean. “We have two cars that have instantly established themselves as front-runners and we’ve secured our first podium of the season – huge congratulations to James, Grégoire, Séb and the #59 crew. Second place in the world championship is a massive achievement.
“The #95 crew also had a stellar week, with P1 in qualifying for Darren, pole position for Sean and top work as usual from Marino. Sadly, their race didn’t end the way we had hoped but Imola is just a few weeks away and we will go there with the same race-winning ambitions.”
“The last 20 minutes of the race had us all on the edge of our seats as Grégoire came so close to taking the win,” mused James. “Darren and Sean did very well to take pole position on their McLaren debut as well, so there was a lot to celebrate in Qatar. We were quick throughout.
“It really is testament to all the hard work done by the engineering team in Woking and everyone at United Autosports over the winter that we have been able to perform straightaway. You must score in every race to win championships, and we are certainly off to a very good start.”
